TITLES, ORDERS, AND DEGREES OF PRECEDENCE AND DIGNITY. XXl When there is no living son, or living male descendant thereof, the nearest lieu- is heir-presumptive, because, though presumably the Sovereign's successor, the latter may yet have a son. On the death of an eldest son without male issue, his next brother takes his place. Since the institution of the title by Edward L, the heir-apparent has been invariably created Prince of Wales. But it is a mistake to suppose that he is born with that title. There is no succession jof Princes of Wales; the title becomea merged in the Crown until renewed by the Sovereign's pleasure. Thus, had George IV. died whilst Prince of Wales, his next brother, though heir-apparent would not have been Prince of Wales. The placarded announcement of " Birth of a Prince of Wales," which gladdened the hearts of Englishmen on the 9th November, 1841, was founded on a popular fallacy ; for an eccentric sovereign may so determine that there shall be no Prince of Wales, save in so far as provision is made by the uct of Edward III., who conferred the title on his son Edward (the renowned Black Prince), " to be held of him and his heirs, Kings of England." B at though not born Prince of Wales, the heir-apparent is born Duke of Cornwall a title created by Edward ILL in favour of the Black Prince, since which time, the chroniclers tell us, " the King's first-born son, from the hour of his birth, is reputed Duke of Cornwall." He also becomes immediately entitled to the revenues of his duchy, which are held at usufruct and accumulation for his benefit. This royal inheritance, by-the-bye, is at present very lucrative. Less than forty years since the revenues of the property, which had been grossly neglected aud mismanaged, were estimated at little more than 14,000 per annum, but under the wise superin- tendence of the lamented Prince Consort, a system of energy, and carefulness, and thrift was introduced, through which it is understood they have risen to something like 50,000 per annum the income now enjoyed in virtue of his duchy rights by our present illustrious and beloved Prince of Wales. The very large sum of ready money of which His Royal Highness became possessed upon attaining the age of twenty-ne, arose from the accumulation and improvement of the annual revenues under the care of his illustrious father ; and out of this fund the purchase of the Sandringham estate was effected. As to the rank and privileges of this illustrious personage, we learn from the British Compendium, Carter, Sir W. Segar, and other authorities, that " next to his father, should his father be a king, he is chief of the realm, and by course of the civil law is to sit at his right hand in all solemn assemblies of state and honour ; but he has no kingly prerogatives, by the laws of Britain, in the life of his father, but acknowledges a reverence, not only as to a father, but also as to his sovereign.' It is, perhaps, straining a point to affirm with Carter that the motto " Ich Dien " (/ serve) adopted by the Black Prince, after slaying John King of Bohemia at the battle of Cressy, is continued by the heir-apparent solely in token of his filial obedience. An old statute of Edward III. enacts " that to compass or imagine the death of the King's eldest son and heir is crimen Icesce majestatis " (high treason). It is a fact little noticed that on the union of the Crowns of England and Scot- land, King James's son (Prince Henry) was created " Prince of Great Britain and Ireland," aud that this nominally higher title survives in the person of our Prince
